Supreme Court to give decision on Constitutional Bill

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 02 August 2000, 13:45 GMT]The Supreme Court said Wednesday that it would inform the President and the Speaker of its decision regarding the new Constitution Bill, which it had examined. A panel of Judges comprising the Chief Justice Sarath N.Silva, Justices Priyantha Perera and Lakshman Weerasekara examined the new Constitution Bill.

President Counsel K.N.Chocksy who appeared for the United National Party said that the Supreme Court did not have the authority to examine the new constitution bill or to come to a decision about it.

President Counsel Shibly Aziz appearing on behalf of Jathika Sangha Sabah said that the Secretary to the Cabinet has no authority to present such a bill to Supreme Court. Mr.S.L.Gunasekara appearing for the Sinhala Urumaya Party argued that while the new constitution was passed under the present government, the referendum would have to be held under the next government.

The JVP, Prajathanthiravathi Janatha Pakshya, Sri Lanka Lawyers Association, the People United Front and several other non-governmental associations registered their opposition to the new constitution bill in the Supreme Court today.

Attorney General K.C.Kamalasabeysan gave a broad explanation of the legal situation in connection with the presentation of the new constitution bill to the parliament on behalf of the government. The Bill only would become law after it has received two-third majority votes in parliament and passed by a referendum, the Attorney General said.